Kuala Lumpur: Reigning AFC Cup champions Air Force Club from Iraq have been handed a potentially difficult start to their title defence following the official draw for the competition’s 2018 edition in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

With the AFC Cup continuing to be split into zones, Air Force Club - who last month defeated Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol to claim a second successive continental crown - find themselves in West Asia’s Group A, where they will have Malkiya Club from Bahrain, Jordan’s Al Jazeera and a yet to be determined Play-off winner for company.

Meanwhile, defeated finalists Istiklol will look to make amends for their 2017 disappointment when they begin their latest title assault from Group D in the Central Zone. They will face FC Alay from Kyrgyzstan, the Central Zone’s Play-off winner and a representative from Turkmenistan.

The fixtures for the Preliminary and Play-off stages – as well as the clubs competing in them – were also finalised at the event.